Franz von Lenbach, (born December 13, 1836, Schrobenhausen, Bavaria [Germany]—died May 6, 1904, Munich, Germany), painter whose powerful characterizations made him the favoured portraitist of late 19th-century Germany.
In 1857 Lenbach became a pupil of Karl von Piloty, with whom he traveled in Italy. The works of this first journey were painted from nature and were frequently attacked for their “trivial realism”.
From 1863 to 1868 he copied Old Masters from the museums and private collections of Germany, Italy, and Spain and sold them to private collectors, especially Count Schack.